2009 BMW 335i Problems & Complaints

Use caution1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the 335i at the same age

Owners have filed 85 complaints about the 2009 BMW 335i with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 1.8× as many as a typical 335i model year at the same age — above average, so look closely at the problem areas below before you buy. The most reported problem area is the fuel & propulsion system (33 complaints, typically around 14,000 miles). 4 recalls cover this model year.

85complaints
4recalls
1crashes
6fires
1injuries
0deaths

Most common 2009 BMW 335i problems

  • 3339%
  • Air bags~102,000 miles
    2934%
  • Engine & cooling~55,000 miles
    1619%
  • Electrical system~101,000 miles
    1518%
  • Lights~50,000 miles
    67%
  • Seat belts~115,000 miles
    67%
  • Seats~134,000 miles
    45%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~39,000 miles
    34%
  • Stability & traction control~81,000 miles
    22%
  • Other / not specified
    22%
  • Speed control & acceleration
    11%
  • Equipment & accessories~3,000 miles
    11%
  • Brakes~7,000 miles
    11%
  • Steering~60,000 miles
    11%
  • Suspension
    11%
  • Wheels & tires~130,000 miles
    11%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~135,000 miles
    11%

Share of the 85 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

BMW 335i complaints by model year

200620072008200920102011201220132014201528820185419822432010
Owner complaints per model year, BMW 335i. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best 335i years: 2006, 2015, 2014. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2009. Compare all years →

2009 BMW 335i recalls (4)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 24V-513 · Jul 3, 2024 · 394,029 vehicles

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-017 · Jan 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi,…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.

Electrical system › Wiring

NHTSA recall 17V-676 · Oct 25, 2017 · 702,965 vehicles

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017.

Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers

NHTSA recall 13V-044 · Feb 7, 2013 · 516,791 vehicles

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013.

What 2009 BMW 335i owners say

Fuel & propulsion system all 33 →

The contact owns a 2009 BMW 335I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle independently entered limp mode with the service transmission warning message on the instrument panel. The contact restarted the vehicle and cleared all warning codes before he resumed normal driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. A DTC reader determined that the cause of the failure was related to a defective fuel pump. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

55,000 miles · Jan 2021

I was driving on the interstate when my car started to lose acceleration. I could not accelerate up an incline. Then I heard a rattling. The next exit was a rest stop and as I was exiting my vehicle failed and shut down. I had no power at all. I coasted to a parking stall and turned the vehicle off after parking it safely. When I opened the hood the vehicle was not hot or smoking so I tried to start it. The car started but with a very loud knocking and rattling so I shut it off again and phoned the dealership. I towed the vehicle to the dealership over 30 days ago and have not been contacted by them not 1x. I have called weekly to no avail.

128,000 miles · Aug 2020

Air bags all 29 →

The contact owns a 2009 BMW 335I. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V017000 (AIR BAGS); however, shortly after the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 102,000.

102,000 miles · Feb 2025

The contact owns a 2009 BMW 335I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag warning illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the result was unknown. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

67,000 miles · Jul 2026

Engine & cooling

The contact owned a 2009 BMW 335i. The contact stated that he parked his vehicle in the driveway of his residence and the next morning his wife informed him that the vehicle was engulfed in flames. There was no damage to the residence from the flames. The fire department was contacted and arrived to extinguish the flames. A fire report was made. There was no injury sustained. The police arrived and started an investigating however, a police report was not filed. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the Vin was not under recall. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the fire department. The insurance provider was contacted and informed the contact that fire coverage was not included in his policy. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included in the recall. …

138,000 miles · Dec 2020 · fire

The contact owns a 2009 BMW 335I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle independently entered limp mode with the service transmission warning message on the instrument panel. The contact restarted the vehicle and cleared all warning codes before he resumed normal driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. A DTC reader determined that the cause of the failure was related to a defective fuel pump. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

55,000 miles · Jan 2021

2009 BMW 335i engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.0L 6-cyl turbo6-speed manualRWD17 / 26 / 20
3.0L 6-cyl turbo6-speed automaticRWD17 / 26 / 20

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 BMW 335i a good car?

Based on 85 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 335i rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the 335i at the same age. It is one of the 335i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 BMW 335i?

The fuel & propulsion system — 33 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about fuel injection system › injectors. Next are the air bags (29) and engine & cooling (16).

How many recalls does the 2009 BMW 335i have?

There are 4 recalls for the 2009 BMW 335i, the most recent from July 3, 2024 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the BMW 335i?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2015 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2009. See the full BMW 335i years comparison.

At what mileage do 2009 BMW 335i problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 49% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.